Chef Schenn returning to lineup; Bryz to start

Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer

TAMPA _ Center Brayden Schenn will return to the lineup for the first time in three-plus weeks, and Ilya Bryzgalov will be in goal when the Flyers play Tampa Bay on Tuesday night.

Schenn, 20, has missed the last nine games since suffering what the Flyers called a "mild" concussion in Phoenix on Dec. 3.

"You just want to get the first shift, the first period and the first game out of the way, then you can stop thinking about it and keep going on with the season," Schenn said of his injury. "I've been sitting home and thinking about it obviously quite a bit lately, and it's just good to get this out of the way and move on."

Acquired with Wayne Simmonds and a No. 2 draft pick in 2012 in the deal that sent Mike Richards to Los Angeles last summer, Schenn has had an injury-plagued season. He injured his shoulder in the preseason and broke his foot earlier in the season. In six games, he has no points and is minus-6.

In seven games with the AHL Phantoms, he had six goals and six assists.

All told, he has played in 15 NHL games and has no goals and two assists.

On Christmas Eve and Christmas, Schenn was the head chef at Scott Hartnell's Old City residence, cooking a turkey dinner for Hartnell, Matt Read and Claude Giroux.

"Surprisingly, it was good," Read said. "I'd give him an A-minus."

The players said they called their moms several times to ask questions about the cooking.

* * *

It appears defenseman Erik Gustafsson will not play Tuesday night, though he skated with the team in the morning. Gustafsson is close to returning from wrist surgery. Center Sean Couturier (head injury) is also getting close to returning.